by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
Mills Godwin is young, green, youthful, inexperienced and whatever other adjective that comes to mind when referring to a team that lost 27 seniors.
Not just any 27 but some of the best football players in the school’s history: RB Chris Fornataro (walk-on at University of Southern California), QB Travis Lane (Hampden-Sydney), WR Mason Simpson (Hampden-Sydney) and DE Grady Bing.
“We’re trying to grow up fast,” Godwin coach Will Kitchen said. “We trying to be patient. We’re trying to work hard. We’re trying to grow up as quickly as we can.”
There are all seniors and juniors in the starting lineup, but most have little field experience on the varsity level.
Blake Forlines (6-0, 170) is one. A terrific receiving option that hurt defenses on the other side of Simpson. He’s the main man now.
Pierce Few (6-1, 205) steps in for Lane. He’s a senior as well as Forlines.
They’ll try to have the same type of combo that Lane and Simpson made successful. Tyler Lane is a returner at wideout, and he’ll be on the other side.
A wild card in the receiving group could be Fletcher Lumpkin, better known for his basketball prowess in Godwin territory. He’s joined the football team and will also play safety.
Few should have a good receiving group to get the ball to. He’ll hand off to RB Kevin Wood, a junior.
There are four seniors across Mills Godwin’s front, but only one player is a returning starter, Zack Lapinski.
“We’re working a lot on route running,” Few said. “Three-step drop, five-step drop, getting the basics down. The o-line is working hard on their pass blocking and run blocking, so it’s going pretty good.”
Defensively, it’s the same story. A few key returners, but a lot of inexperience.
A strong point should be the secondary, as three of the four starters are returning varsity players in Forlines, Lane and Few.
The newbie is Lumpkin, which should be a plus with his unusual height (6-5) at safety.
The LB crew will lean on Justin McAdams (6-0, 195) heavily. The line is all new, but should be quick at the point of attack.
“We’re trying to make sure we play some fundamental football defensively and offensively,” said Kitchen on Thursday’s upcoming scrimmage. “We’re trying to get lined up correctly. We’re trying to get off blocks. We’re trying to run to the football and make plays when we get there.”
2007 record: 6-1 Colonial District, 8-2
Overall
2008
season 2007 result
(all games at 7:30 p.m., unless noted. Click team for their
preview!)
Sept. 5 – Monacan
W, 24-23
Sept. 12 – Collegiate
W, 27-21
Sept. 19 – at H. Springs L, 14-62
Sept 26 – at Hermitage L, 7-31
Oct. 3 – J.R. Tucker W, 40-16
Oct. 10 – Thomas Jefferson
W, 48-12
Oct. 18 – at John Marshall, 1 p.m.
W, 26-14
Oct. 25 – Deep Run W, 30-28
Oct. 31 – at Patrick Henry W, 43-42
Nov. 7 – Douglas Freeman
W, 42-23
Big game: Douglas Freeman. Regardless of what kind of season both teams will have, this is the biggest game of their seasons.
Key players: Blake Forlines, WR/CB, Sr.; Tyler Lane, WR/CB, Jr.; Kevin Wood, RB, Jr.; Zack Lapinski, OL, Sr.; Justin McAdams, LB, Sr.; Pierce Few, QB/S, Sr.
Key losses: Travis Lane, QB (Hampden-Sydney); Chris Fornataro, RB (USC); Mason Simpson, WR (Hampden-Sydney); Grady Bing, DL
Top newcomer: Fletcher Lumpkin, WR/S. Basketball standout should provide plenty of aggressiveness on defense and a great jump ball WR on offense. A red-zone threat.
The
skinny: Yes, Godwin is very young or inexperienced in many key spots. But the Eagles play fundamental football at all times. If they can stay within themselves and not turn the ball over, it could be another successful campaign.
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